Ethical Hacking as a Career

Security is a major concern these days, not only in physical space but
also in the cyber space. Breaking into computer systems which once was
a pastime for geeks, now has become a full-fledged career option.
In recent years, there has been an alarming increase in the number of
cyber crime cases on the Internet like hacking email accounts, stealing
and intercepting sensitive data, password attacks, abusive emails etc.
This has increased the demand for ethical hackers who are our saviors.

Although hacking is an offense, it is considered ethical only when it is
done under a contract between the hacker and the organization. When we
hear the word 'hackers' a fear comes to us. But 'ethical hackers' also
known as a 'white hat' is our friend. An ethical hacker is someone who
hacks with legal permission to strengthen systems and makes them penetration-proof.
Ethical hacker is a network or computer experts who help in finding loopholes
in an IT system to seek vulnerabilities if any, so that the system remains
safe from any malicious hacker. Ethical hacking, also known as penetration
testing, intrusion testing or red teaming is used to find loopholes in
an IT system and break into it.

Ethical Hackers are technically skilled IT professionals with a strong
desire to solve problems and prevent malicious hackers from causing damage
to network systems. Ethical hackers are well versed in computer and
networking algorithms. They report the loopholes in the security system
to the owners and provide solutions to protect the network. In other words,
ethical hackers try to penetrate networks, detect the vulnerabilities
in the security systems and fix them before any troubleshooter can take
advantage of it. An ethical hacker is generally appointed by huge corporate
companies to ensure the safety and privacy of their data. Computer security
is a global issue and it's the job of an ethical hacker to make
the cyber space safe, now and forever.

Eligibility for Ethical Hacker

Educational

Those who have an educational background in computer science or IT or
computer engineering can enter the field of ethical hacking.

They must know programming languages like C, C++, Python, Ruby etc.
The understanding of widely used operating systems like the
various versions of Windows, Linux and Firefox etc. is also an
important part of your knowledge base. Some of the known certifications
in Ethical Hacking are CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) and CHFI (
Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator) offered by EC Council; CCNA
Security (Cisco Certified Network Associate Security); SCP's SCNS
(Security Certified Network Specialist) & SCNP (Security Certified
Network Professional); CISSP (Cerified Information Systems Security
Professional) offered by Intl Information System Security certification
Consortium and many more. Certification from SANS institute in the US
though expensive is another valuable certification in the field. Courses
can be neutral, or vendor (company) specific such as certifications
offered by Cisco, Microsoft, Novell etc. Ethical hacking course trains a
student to find loopholes in a network or a programme, using similar
methods as that of hacking. The intense certifications mentioned above
provides critical network security fundamentals for all network
administrators. Skills covered include the design and implentation of
firewalls, IDS, wireless security, Cryptography, Linux security, Windows
security among others.

Personal attributes

To become an ethical hacker, being computer savvy and
gadget friendly are important pre-requisites. To be a professional ethical
hacker you also require motivation, dedication, analytical thinking, initiative,
problem solving ability, investigative nature and formal training in ethical
hacking. Honesty, integrity and trustworthiness are also highly essential in
this field. Ethical hackers must have adaptability and resourcefulness to
troubleshoot any unforeseeable snags during testing software and systems. They
must also have good computer hardware and software knowledge. There should be a
keen interest in the Internet and basic knowledge of networking and programming.
Above all he must be a certified ethical hacker. Continuous training &
updation, as well as knowledge in various technologies is a must for a ethical
hacker.

Video on Ethical Hacking

Job prospects for Ethical Hacker

With internet use mounting worldwide and cyber crimes increased as well,
ethical hackers have become an integral workforce of any IT security industry
today. However, currently there is a huge gap between the demand and supply
as far as ethical hackers are concerned. Hence, scope for a fresher
is lucrative not only in India but globally.

Internet security and Networking are the two fastest-growing industries
where ethical hackers can find employment in ethical hacking and information
security. Ethical hackers are hired to find out any vulnerability that
might exist in their network and to find out how to fix them. They can
join the government as well as private organisations as cyber security
experts. IT firms are the main recruiters of ethical hackers. However,
it is not limited only to IT companies but such experts are also required
by financial service providers, airlines, retail chains, hotels and several
government agencies.

Government agencies such as military and law enforcement agencies, defence
organisations, forensic laboratories, detective companies, investigative
services offers challenging roles for ethical hackers. Some skilled hackers
work for investigation agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation,
the National Security Agency and the Federal Bureau of Information.

Some large organisations employ security testers and others use contractors
to audit their systems. Graduates can set up their own companies offering
ethical hacking services. Companies such as Wipro, Infosys, IBM,
TCS, Tech Mahindra, HCL, Airtel, Reliance and many more are also looking
for good ethical hackers.

Not only has the career avenues available for an ethical hacker has increased,
even the remuneration that a certified ethical hacker gets has shown a
significant jump.

A fresher in the field can earn a minimum of Rs 2.5 lakh per annum. Initially
one has to work as an assistant or trainee for security system till he
can be experienced enough to be an ethical hacker on his own. With experience,
one can expect upto Rs 4.5 lakh per annum. However, those with work experience
of five years or more can get from 10 to12 lakh per annum.